APRIL 2018 I-129F FILERS

[Anna&eiad 84]

31 minutes ago, Whanlin said:

I know I know I'm being impatient but I want my NOA1 now  I get visions of it just sitting there having agents just walking by it ignoring it. It just sits there pining away to be touched and nobody pays it any attention. I am totally blowing this out of proportion because it was only delivered to USCIS Friday afternoon..but still. I'm so not cut out for the waiting game we are going to be going through. 

The noa1 came quickly and now I totally feel the same way as you for the noa2 and I got the noa1 after 6 days of it getting to texas...and I live in texas.got text, email and hard copy noa1. 

[AmandaandChayne 734]

4 hours ago, VegasJohn said:

Haha, I have checked it more than a couple of times too for some reason.... 

 

Good to check in and see how my fellow Aprilites are doing!  In response to some earlier posts I missed, I'm glad that my fiancee and I aren't the only ones who cry like babies every time our time together comes to an end.  But fortunately for us my work is flexible and I'm able to go to Colombia for about a week per month and work from there. Although it's been a month already now  and I'm not able to get down there until later in May, so it's been rough since we filed and haven't seen each other since early April when we got officially engaged - but I'll be there pretty soon for 10 days!

 

Question for the other US petitioners out there - how soon are you sending your fiancee the packet of forms to fill out for the next step?  I want to make sure that as soon as we get the NAO2, we can move forward as fast as possible with her getting her interview set and everything.  She lives in Medellin so has to go to Bogota for the interview, but it seems from what I've read that the Bogota embassy is fairly quick, so that's encouraging.  

 

Keep strong and patient, everyone! The time will fly (I HOPE)! 

Me too John,

Yep we cry like babies too, well I do for hours every time one of us has to leave. We are limited by my leave and Chayne getting cover for his ER ( he's surgical director so has to cover vacant shifts). Managing about 70 days max between visits currently but if i work when he visits ( I can do a couple of days in a week from home) we can maybe see each other more often back end of the year.

 

We are on with getting our paperwork together now as we can ie visit evidence after each visit, financials, i'm checking my innoculations, I'll see my doc to have reports drafted ahead of time ready to tweak and send and UK police record only takes 10 days so Ill hit go on that when we get NOA2.

Wondering if as beneficiary i can fill DS160 in ahead of time?

 

Trying to be patient by doing something visa or life clearing each week no matter how minor.

 

So far this week phoned one of my pension companies to update my details, done 1 hour driving theory test revision and tomorrow i'll get my innocualtion record.

told my boss my work diary needs to be full October/November so i dont crack up. We'll keep each other strong.

 

Edited May 1, 2018 by AmandaandChayne

[pretendthisisfun 107]

1 hour ago, Whanlin said:

I know I know I'm being impatient but I want my NOA1 now  I get visions of it just sitting there having agents just walking by it ignoring it. It just sits there pining away to be touched and nobody pays it any attention. I am totally blowing this out of proportion because it was only delivered to USCIS Friday afternoon..but still. I'm so not cut out for the waiting game we are going to be going through. 

I know exactly how you feel, but you should have it soon.  I send mine overnight on 4/25, they accepted it on Friday, 4/27, and I got my text and email notification with receipt number just moments ago.  So exciting.  Now I can hurry up and wait for between five to seven months.  See you in November I suppose.  Who am I kidding...I'll be watching this site every single day to see if anyone has any news.  Good luck!

[AmandaandChayne 734]

26 minutes ago, pretendthisisfun said:

I know exactly how you feel, but you should have it soon.  I send mine overnight on 4/25, they accepted it on Friday, 4/27, and I got my text and email notification with receipt number just moments ago.  So exciting.  Now I can hurry up and wait for between five to seven months.  See you in November I suppose.  Who am I kidding...I'll be watching this site every single day to see if anyone has any news.  Good luck!

Congrats!!! You know I’ll be here every day!!

[Kyle&Ana 718]

Hey guys I'm came back to my home country without baby... I feel happy and sad at the same time... I wish u a good day my beloved aprilettes...

Edited May 1, 2018 by Kyle&Ana

[pretendthisisfun 107]

So interesting to hear your stories and learn more about each of you.  I meant to say what is one thing about your partner...not what is the one thing.  Still haven't learned to edit these.  I'm sure we will keep learning about each other and truly be like family in a few months.  

 

@AmandaandChayne  You sound so lucky to have found one another!  You are so fortunate to have the finances and employment situation that allows for so many visits.  I'm envious of those like you who can make such frequent visits.  It's easy for us to think of how easy those in the same zip code or area code have it when they complain about not having enough time to spend with their partner.  I truly feel for those who for various reasons are only able to visit their partner once a year or less, even.  It doesn't make it easier, but it makes you feel a bit grateful.  Good luck and congratulations.  As for the time difference, we have six hours difference also.  Because of our work situation, we have video calls at 2pm my time each day.  I am fortunate enough to be able to skip out of work for a couple of hours right before her sleep.  We started out at 4pm, then 3pm, and she was just always so tired from lack of sleep, like you.  We text throughout the day.  I send a voice note every night right before bed that she can wake up to, and she sends me the same when she can.  It works for us.  I think that's what everyone has to find.

 

@Anna&eiad  Speaking of feeling for those who can't make frequent visits, I feel for you.  About the calls and texts situation...have you heard about VPN?  Virtual Private Networks allow people in places like UAE and other countries with less free internet to bypass those blocks.  You and your fiance should really look into them.  I use NordVPN but there are several.  He can even use the app on a cellphone and it is very, very simple.  https://www.bestvpn.com/best-vpns-for-uae/  I can't imagine life without WhatsApp and being able to have free video chat everyday.  Because data is so expensive in South Africa, we tried to find the lowest data video chat provider and had a lot of luck with Zangi.  But she finally let me buy her some data, so we are back to WhatsApp now.

 

@Larenn&Loda  Thank you so much for the comment on my username.  It was my username on OkCupid when we met.  I was pretending online dating was fun.  Now I'm pretending this process is fun.  I'm glad you are going to join me in the pretend world where this is fun and exciting.  Sorry to hear that you were denied.  I'm worried about my fiance's planned visit here, she is still waiting on her passport.  I read here that you could send in I-129F without a beneficiary passport, so that is what we did.  I figured a one month wait if they do an RFE is better than a two or three month delay in waiting for passport to come back before we submitted.  I feel for you on not being able to visit more often.  I hope you will be approved for a tourist visa.  I was oblivious to how difficult it is for others to travel to the US compared to how easily we can travel.  It seems so unfair that I can go to South Africa anytime without a visa or having to do anything but show up, and for her, she has to go through an interview and get a visa and whole big process.  Doesn't make sense.  

 

@Maham10  Video calls are the best.  What would we do without them?  I am right with you on waking up in October with a NOA2 approval.  But then we will have to wait some more for the NVC, but depending on the consulate that process seems to move much more quickly.

 

@VegasJohn  I do believe you win the award for Aprilite who has the most enviable visitation situation.  At least from what I have seen.  I'd love to be able to see my fiance every month.  I feel lucky for every three months.  I'll be taking all the information I can provide on my next visit.  I'm holding off a bit for suggesting when she get her documentation because of the timelines required.  

 

I think I replied to everyone who answered.  It's interesting to see so many of you from so many different places and walks of life.  We are all so different in so many ways, but we have one big thing in common and it unites us all for the next several months.  Good luck to you all and also congratulations for taking this step.  

[Anna&eiad 84]

5 minutes ago, pretendthisisfun said:

So interesting to hear your stories and learn more about each of you.  I meant to say what is one thing about your partner...not what is the one thing.  Still haven't learned to edit these.  I'm sure we will keep learning about each other and truly be like family in a few months.  

 

@AmandaandChayne  You sound so lucky to have found one another!  You are so fortunate to have the finances and employment situation that allows for so many visits.  I'm envious of those like you who can make such frequent visits.  It's easy for us to think of how easy those in the same zip code or area code have it when they complain about not having enough time to spend with their partner.  I truly feel for those who for various reasons are only able to visit their partner once a year or less, even.  It doesn't make it easier, but it makes you feel a bit grateful.  Good luck and congratulations.  As for the time difference, we have six hours difference also.  Because of our work situation, we have video calls at 2pm my time each day.  I am fortunate enough to be able to skip out of work for a couple of hours right before her sleep.  We started out at 4pm, then 3pm, and she was just always so tired from lack of sleep, like you.  We text throughout the day.  I send a voice note every night right before bed that she can wake up to, and she sends me the same when she can.  It works for us.  I think that's what everyone has to find.

 

@Anna&eiad  Speaking of feeling for those who can't make frequent visits, I feel for you.  About the calls and texts situation...have you heard about VPN?  Virtual Private Networks allow people in places like UAE and other countries with less free internet to bypass those blocks.  You and your fiance should really look into them.  I use NordVPN but there are several.  He can even use the app on a cellphone and it is very, very simple.  https://www.bestvpn.com/best-vpns-for-uae/  I can't imagine life without WhatsApp and being able to have free video chat everyday.  Because data is so expensive in South Africa, we tried to find the lowest data video chat provider and had a lot of luck with Zangi.  But she finally let me buy her some data, so we are back to WhatsApp now.

 

@Larenn&Loda  Thank you so much for the comment on my username.  It was my username on OkCupid when we met.  I was pretending online dating was fun.  Now I'm pretending this process is fun.  I'm glad you are going to join me in the pretend world where this is fun and exciting.  Sorry to hear that you were denied.  I'm worried about my fiance's planned visit here, she is still waiting on her passport.  I read here that you could send in I-129F without a beneficiary passport, so that is what we did.  I figured a one month wait if they do an RFE is better than a two or three month delay in waiting for passport to come back before we submitted.  I feel for you on not being able to visit more often.  I hope you will be approved for a tourist visa.  I was oblivious to how difficult it is for others to travel to the US compared to how easily we can travel.  It seems so unfair that I can go to South Africa anytime without a visa or having to do anything but show up, and for her, she has to go through an interview and get a visa and whole big process.  Doesn't make sense.  

 

@Maham10  Video calls are the best.  What would we do without them?  I am right with you on waking up in October with a NOA2 approval.  But then we will have to wait some more for the NVC, but depending on the consulate that process seems to move much more quickly.

 

@VegasJohn  I do believe you win the award for Aprilite who has the most enviable visitation situation.  At least from what I have seen.  I'd love to be able to see my fiance every month.  I feel lucky for every three months.  I'll be taking all the information I can provide on my next visit.  I'm holding off a bit for suggesting when she get her documentation because of the timelines required.  

 

I think I replied to everyone who answered.  It's interesting to see so many of you from so many different places and walks of life.  We are all so different in so many ways, but we have one big thing in common and it unites us all for the next several months.  Good luck to you all and also congratulations for taking this step.  

We tried using vpn. Ate up data too much. We use what sap and messenger chat but I found an inexpensive phone card to uae and now I call everyday. Sometimes he calls too... but texting is good as always. But no idea when the next visit will be. Good luck to all of you that can visit more frequently. I am a nurse and as a civil engineer he has used up his yearly vacation until January.  We will survive. Time will go by quickly. Been less than a month since I was there.

[Kyle&Ana 718]

I was with my fiancee this morning and now I'm so sad... this "see u soon situation" is harder each time ... i have read all the post and welcome to everybody to ur virtual family! The love always win... And I just feel complete with him even a day without him is an eternity! But we gonna pass this test! 

 

Starting the countdown for 21 June i will see him again! Dreamin about it! 

 

Kisses big virtual family! 

[MrsFerchichi 23]

I got mine after like 2 weeks I believe. 

[Ninaav 51]

8 hours ago, VegasJohn said:

Haha, I have checked it more than a couple of times too for some reason.... 

 

Good to check in and see how my fellow Aprilites are doing!  In response to some earlier posts I missed, I'm glad that my fiancee and I aren't the only ones who cry like babies every time our time together comes to an end.  But fortunately for us my work is flexible and I'm able to go to Colombia for about a week per month and work from there. Although it's been a month already now  and I'm not able to get down there until later in May, so it's been rough since we filed and haven't seen each other since early April when we got officially engaged - but I'll be there pretty soon for 10 days!

 

Question for the other US petitioners out there - how soon are you sending your fiancee the packet of forms to fill out for the next step?  I want to make sure that as soon as we get the NAO2, we can move forward as fast as possible with her getting her interview set and everything.  She lives in Medellin so has to go to Bogota for the interview, but it seems from what I've read that the Bogota embassy is fairly quick, so that's encouraging.  

 

Keep strong and patient, everyone! The time will fly (I HOPE)! 

Hi you have the exact same timeline as we do!  We got officially engaged in early April also when I was in Panama visiting.  My fiance is Colombian also but he lives in Panama now.  He is from outside of Medellin as well! I plan to give him the packet and whatever other forms I need to fill out mid august when i go back to visit. I don't know how i will wait until then but I can't get off work.  I am hoping they are here by Christmas but if not we will go spend Christmas with them in Panama.   the police clearance there can you print it from online and it says that there are no pending cases?  Is that the one you all are using? We hope to retire to Colombia one day.  Nina 

[VegasJohn 29]

5 hours ago, AmandaandChayne said:

...

We are on with getting our paperwork together now as we can ie visit evidence after each visit, financials, i'm checking my innoculations, I'll see my doc to have reports drafted ahead of time ready to tweak and send and UK police record only takes 10 days so Ill hit go on that when we get NOA2.

Wondering if as beneficiary i can fill DS160 in ahead of time?

 

Trying to be patient by doing something visa or life clearing each week no matter how minor.

...

 

Good way to look at it - do something visa related no matter how minor.  I have so much damn evidence I want to say "what more could they ever want!" haha, but I know it's good to document as much as possible and not leave things out... I do think that the beneficiary can fill out the DS160 ahead of time. That's a good question, I will look into that. 

 

We are hoping that if we get approved as early as October sometime, that will give us time for her to get everything sent in and for me to go to Colombia for our final "visit" to her there and I can go to her appointment at the embassy in Bogota together. I know it's definitely not required and isn't going to help one way or the other, but it would be fun for us to get to do that last step together.  She's a special education teacher/clinical therapist so she is planning to finish out the school year and her contract which runs until mid December, and then hopefully be able to move to Las Vegas around the new year!  It's crazy that it's May already, it makes me optimistic that things will go fast, but also makes me nervous that it will sneak up on us so definitely a good idea to go ahead and compile records and documents now...

[Anna&eiad 84]

3 minutes ago, VegasJohn said:

Good way to look at it - do something visa related no matter how minor.  I have so much damn evidence I want to say "what more could they ever want!" haha, but I know it's good to document as much as possible and not leave things out... I do think that the beneficiary can fill out the DS160 ahead of time. That's a good question, I will look into that. 

 

We are hoping that if we get approved as early as October sometime, that will give us time for her to get everything sent in and for me to go to Colombia for our final "visit" to her there and I can go to her appointment at the embassy in Bogota together. I know it's definitely not required and isn't going to help one way or the other, but it would be fun for us to get to do that last step together.  She's a special education teacher/clinical therapist so she is planning to finish out the school year and her contract which runs until mid December, and then hopefully be able to move to Las Vegas around the new year!  It's crazy that it's May already, it makes me optimistic that things will go fast, but also makes me nervous that it will sneak up on us so definitely a good idea to go ahead and compile records and documents now...

I am also interested to find out when to fill out the ds160

[AmandaandChayne 734]

1 hour ago, VegasJohn said:

Good way to look at it - do something visa related no matter how minor.  I have so much damn evidence I want to say "what more could they ever want!" haha, but I know it's good to document as much as possible and not leave things out... I do think that the beneficiary can fill out the DS160 ahead of time. That's a good question, I will look into that. 

 

We are hoping that if we get approved as early as October sometime, that will give us time for her to get everything sent in and for me to go to Colombia for our final "visit" to her there and I can go to her appointment at the embassy in Bogota together. I know it's definitely not required and isn't going to help one way or the other, but it would be fun for us to get to do that last step together.  She's a special education teacher/clinical therapist so she is planning to finish out the school year and her contract which runs until mid December, and then hopefully be able to move to Las Vegas around the new year!  It's crazy that it's May already, it makes me optimistic that things will go fast, but also makes me nervous that it will sneak up on us so definitely a good idea to go ahead and compile records and documents now...

So the DS160.  You can do ahead of time and save progress. If submitting within 40 days you can save it online, if longer you can download it then upload when submitting. 

 

I staeted mine last last night before crashing. 

You sound like us, we have a tonne of evidence and daren't leave anything out!!

 

i think I’ll be doing my day trips to London on my own. Usually our medicals here precede the interview by 2 weeks! 

 

I have a feeling time could drag but like you dont don’t want to be unprepared by thinking we have bags of time!!

[VegasJohn 29]

3 hours ago, pretendthisisfun said:

So interesting to hear your stories and learn more about each of you.  I meant to say what is one thing about your partner...not what is the one thing.  Still haven't learned to edit these.  I'm sure we will keep learning about each other and truly be like family in a few months.  

 

@AmandaandChayne  You sound so lucky to have found one another!  You are so fortunate to have the finances and employment situation that allows for so many visits.  I'm envious of those like you who can make such frequent visits.  It's easy for us to think of how easy those in the same zip code or area code have it when they complain about not having enough time to spend with their partner.  I truly feel for those who for various reasons are only able to visit their partner once a year or less, even.  It doesn't make it easier, but it makes you feel a bit grateful.  Good luck and congratulations.  As for the time difference, we have six hours difference also.  Because of our work situation, we have video calls at 2pm my time each day.  I am fortunate enough to be able to skip out of work for a couple of hours right before her sleep.  We started out at 4pm, then 3pm, and she was just always so tired from lack of sleep, like you.  We text throughout the day.  I send a voice note every night right before bed that she can wake up to, and she sends me the same when she can.  It works for us.  I think that's what everyone has to find.

 

@Anna&eiad  Speaking of feeling for those who can't make frequent visits, I feel for you.  About the calls and texts situation...have you heard about VPN?  Virtual Private Networks allow people in places like UAE and other countries with less free internet to bypass those blocks.  You and your fiance should really look into them.  I use NordVPN but there are several.  He can even use the app on a cellphone and it is very, very simple.  https://www.bestvpn.com/best-vpns-for-uae/  I can't imagine life without WhatsApp and being able to have free video chat everyday.  Because data is so expensive in South Africa, we tried to find the lowest data video chat provider and had a lot of luck with Zangi.  But she finally let me buy her some data, so we are back to WhatsApp now.

 

@Larenn&Loda  Thank you so much for the comment on my username.  It was my username on OkCupid when we met.  I was pretending online dating was fun.  Now I'm pretending this process is fun.  I'm glad you are going to join me in the pretend world where this is fun and exciting.  Sorry to hear that you were denied.  I'm worried about my fiance's planned visit here, she is still waiting on her passport.  I read here that you could send in I-129F without a beneficiary passport, so that is what we did.  I figured a one month wait if they do an RFE is better than a two or three month delay in waiting for passport to come back before we submitted.  I feel for you on not being able to visit more often.  I hope you will be approved for a tourist visa.  I was oblivious to how difficult it is for others to travel to the US compared to how easily we can travel.  It seems so unfair that I can go to South Africa anytime without a visa or having to do anything but show up, and for her, she has to go through an interview and get a visa and whole big process.  Doesn't make sense.  

 

@Maham10  Video calls are the best.  What would we do without them?  I am right with you on waking up in October with a NOA2 approval.  But then we will have to wait some more for the NVC, but depending on the consulate that process seems to move much more quickly.

 

@VegasJohn  I do believe you win the award for Aprilite who has the most enviable visitation situation.  At least from what I have seen.  I'd love to be able to see my fiance every month.  I feel lucky for every three months.  I'll be taking all the information I can provide on my next visit.  I'm holding off a bit for suggesting when she get her documentation because of the timelines required.  

 

I think I replied to everyone who answered.  It's interesting to see so many of you from so many different places and walks of life.  We are all so different in so many ways, but we have one big thing in common and it unites us all for the next several months.  Good luck to you all and also congratulations for taking this step.  

Great point - it's definitely cool to see the differences in everyone's situation and background and to know that regardless of where we all come from and what situation we are in -- we are all in this wait together!

 

I definitely don't take it for granted how fortunate Kelly and I are to be able to spend time together fairly regularly - I guess it hasn't been exactly once a month but about one week every 4-6 weeks. I live in Las Vegas (in case the username wasn't obvious lol), and even though Colombia seems so far away, it's actually a pretty quick trip and flights can regularly be found for fairly cheap thanks to the huge international airport here (thank you tourists!).  My situation works out well because I can pick an entire week when I simply fly down there and I can work remotely from an office that I use there and do the exact same work for the same clients as I would be doing here,  so I don't need to take time off work or anything.... I recently left a job working for a law firm and started my own firm, which gives me great flexibility and freedom to work when and where I want, so we are lucky to have the luxury of just living a normal life together when I go visit here there. We both go to work for a full day M-F and I'll make sure to have a weekend there on either the front or back end of the trip so we can enjoy free time together.  But we are so accustomed to spending time together that after a while apart, it's really hard.  I know I'm preaching to the wrong choir, haha, but just know that even if you get to see your future spouse more often, it's never easy to be apart!   Everyone stay strong...the time will fly  

[VegasJohn 29]

3 hours ago, Ninaav said:

Hi you have the exact same timeline as we do!  We got officially engaged in early April also when I was in Panama visiting.  My fiance is Colombian also but he lives in Panama now.  He is from outside of Medellin as well! I plan to give him the packet and whatever other forms I need to fill out mid august when i go back to visit. I don't know how i will wait until then but I can't get off work.  I am hoping they are here by Christmas but if not we will go spend Christmas with them in Panama.   the police clearance there can you print it from online and it says that there are no pending cases?  Is that the one you all are using? We hope to retire to Colombia one day.  Nina 

That's really cool that we have the same date, and also engaged to a Colombian!  My fiancee is from just outside of Medellin also - from Barbosa, Antioquia.  Small world, isn't it!?  I love Medellin and even before I met Kelly I could have definitely seen myself retiring there some day way far away. But now we are making plans to have an apartment or home there and I would certainly not be opposed to spending time between Colombia and Las Vegas going forward after a few years of building up my work and future here. I really love the weeks I spend down there, not just for the time I get with my fiancee of course, but also it's just a wonderful place to live and work, great people, great community, I love the culture and the city. 

 

I haven't looked at the police clearance yet, but when I'm there the week of May 19th (yay!) we are going to look into that and I'll share here whatever I find out.  Buena suerte!